Wednesday, August 21, 2013

A helicopter carrying exam papers to primary school students in Aleppo countryside was shot down yesterday.

The helicopter was flying over the besieged town of Nubol and was carrying basic education examination papers. The helicopters crew as well as other passengers, were killed when the helicopter was hit by a surface to air missile. Among the martyred passengers was a teacher, Hussam Muhammad Youssef.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) citing a source, said:

The terrorist attack caused the martyrdom of seven civil employees in addition to the helicopter crew.

Prime Minister, Dr. Wael al-Halqi condemned the attack, saying:

This criminal act against educational cadres who seek to propagate knowledge, the will to live, and emancipation from the criminal mentality came after the armed terrorist groups, who have destructive takfiri thought were vanquished by the enlightened thought.

The towns of Nubol and Zahra, north of Aleppo city, have been blockaded by the Free Syrian Army and it’s allies in Jabhat al-Nusra for months. Sectarian atrocities are on the rise in the area, as government troops attempt to confront militants in occupied towns and villages.

The attack on the helicopter was later claimed by the ”Bara’ bin Malik” Brigade that belongs to the “Fateh” Battalion of the “Free Syrian Army” (FSA).